steepwithdead | Folkmore

I'm already partway there, if you think about it.

[He points towards his Legend "halo", AKA the string of vines and florals perpetually present around the back of his head. One reason why he manages to get by in the market as a favoured friend without his own proper flower crown: he's already got one.]

[Leonardo does laugh softly at that. A few petals float down from his flower crown, landing on the fabric of his cowl. Petals are gathering in certain places already as they walk together.] Okay, I can't disagree with that. You're so close to it. Now if only those flowers gave back to you. They suit you, but, they're freeloaders.

Flowers don't exist to feed me. They exist to feed bees.

[He's happy to let them freeload. They bring fun guests around to visit him.]

I think about 85% of the things you say could end up on some kind of greeting card. [He teases lightly back.]

I guess if the flowers bring you bees, the flowers can keep up the good work. If they stop, they're on standby for a trim. [He has no intend to do that, but mimes a cutting gesture jokingly.]

Hmm. Sounds like a less-than-legendary haircut.

[what the heck is a greeting card, though.]

Thankfully, the flowers will be spared. For now. [One day, he'll realize he needs to explain certain things to the firbolg. One day.] As long as they pull in those fat round bees. Those are cute.

I don't do bee discrimination. All bees are good.

[He does enjoy the fat bees, though.]

All bees are good, but fat bees are gonna be my favorite. Sometimes, you gotta play favorites. They probably pollinate the best anyway. [This is such a conversation they're having whilst buying veggies at the market.]

Fat bees do have a distinct look we can all appreciate. I believe the best pollinators are the ones with longer legs, though.

[He has no scientific papers to back this up, just Bee Experience.]

Cause their long legs hold more pollen? [He questions in turn as he wiggles his fingers to mime bug legs moving.]

Yeah, exactly. They've got little hairs the pollen sticks to, and it scrapes off when they land on different flowers. Some even have little baskets to carry the pollen in.

[Very silly, but Caduceus is not a bastion of seriousness anyway. Welcome to Bee Facts 101.]

When you say baskets, are we talking the kind of baskets I'm picturing or like some weird bee orifice? [Leonardo will absolutely believe whatever Cad tells him.]

I suppose the latter? [It's a perfectly normal bee orifice, excuse you.] Some bees have little lumpy cavities on their back legs they can store pollen in. Rather than spreading it to other flowers, they take it home to feed the colony.

Now I'm a little disappointed they don't have little wicker baskets. [He jokes lightly back.] Guess I'm getting my education about bees today. Not a bad thing. Better than not knowing.

Maybe means I can put a flower pot or something in the apartment window whenever I move back there. So I can see a bee or two more often.

You'll want the plants outside, lest the bees get trapped or worse, try to move in. [Especially with winter on the way, those that don't die out will be moving to sleep somewhere warm, which can make for a fun discovery in spring.] Apartment living isn't a thing where I live, but I've heard that balconies are good for little gardens.

I'd treat the bees right, I'd make them little wicker baskets. [He teases gently back, but nods.] It'd be nice to have a bit more greenery around the apartment, even if it's just on the balcony. Maybe I'll broach the topic later.

Donnie got so weird when I brought that plant home, still not even sure why. [Absolutely unaware that his clingy twin was jealous of Leo being friends with anyone else.]

Huh. [Very weird indeed. Caduceus has never had a sibling be jealous of him at all, except perhaps a little with Calliope and Colton when he succeeded in their mission where they didn't.] He didn't tell you? Did you ask?

I tried asking him what crawled up his shell and died, he just... kept dancing around it. Saying I'd kill the plant, or he'd throw it away when I wasn't home. It turned into a pretty dumb fight if I remember right. [He has to think for a second to remember more of the conversation.

His lips briefly press into a thin line as he remembers a little more. He rubs the back of his neck. His gaze drifts to eye the marketplace around them.] Right, this was the argument where he said I was... trusting someone I barely knew and how badly that ended every other time I did. I think it was a little much for a plant, but… Donnie.

[He tries to shake it off, managing a smile again.] We both sulked for two days before we got over it. I don't think we've talked about it since, but, he's left my plant alone, so, win-win, yeah?

Well. I am glad he didn't kill your plant.

[His poor little hand-me-down. Things die sometimes, it isn't the end of the world, certainly. But at this point it feels like Leo may be hanging on with a thread, and you never know what might be the final thread that snaps, with people already dealing with so much.]

Is it possible he's making a lot of noise with no other outlet? Empty threats, while failing or not wanting to address the real issue.

Yeah me, too. Hopefully it's alright. I need to check on it soon. [Sure, he's living with Caduceus, but he still makes the trip to water the plant and check on it. He reaches up to adjust his flower crown absently.]

Maybe? It's hard to tell with Donnie now. I used to be able to read him like a book, now he's in a completely different language in a few places and I just make things a little worse.

That can happen, after a long time apart. [Even if it's been a short time for Donatello, Leo could have been the one who changed.] Could be the time difference is making him uncomfortable, and harder to read.

[Caduceus phrasing it that way does make the turtle pause to mull it over as they walk together.]

I think you're right about that. He's... still stuck in the place he was when we last saw each other. I don't think I am anymore.

People change, in absence and through time. He isn't stuck, he's been left behind. That must be very frustrating for him.

[He pauses, halting by a stall and beginning to pick through the vegetables for good options.]

Keep in mind, this is not an excuse. How one feels doesn't make it acceptable to mistreat other people. But pain and grief for oneself is not rational.

You make it exceptionally hard to stay mad, you know that? [He grouses back with no real heat. More amusement than much else.

His gaze drops to the vegetables, more idly picking over their options. Caduceus has the eye for it, but Leonardo will hold up a piece or two he thinks is good.]

Not an excuse, yeah, but... a reason enough to not hold a grudge as much as I'd like to. Give him some space, but still have my own line in the sand.

Better if I don't meddle in some things at least. [He thinks about the conversation he had with Casey about Leonardo's fight with Donnie.] I've made things messier already.

Edited (I THINK THE TIMELINE CHECKS OUT??) 2025-12-06 01:18 (UTC)

[Caduceus gives a glance to the vegetables Leo finds, then holds his basket out for them to be added to the pile. Looks good to him.]

I think it was a joint effort in the mess-making business. But yeah, space, a break, and boundaries are all important steps when it comes to rebuilding bridges. One brick at a time. First step, we take a breath. Then, we make pizza.

[After that... well, maybe that can be tomorrow's problem.]

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